Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures; County of Los Angeles

What Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures; County of Los Angeles does

The Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures Department is a regulatory agency of Los Angeles County, California, established in 1881 and operating under the County Board of Supervisors. It enforces federal, state, and county laws across four statutory domains: (1) commercial measurement accuracy (weights, measures, fuel meters, price scanners), (2) pesticide regulation and exotic pest exclusion, (3) weed and brush abatement on vacant properties to reduce fire hazards, and (4) produce quality and farmers' market certification. Service delivery is organized across five bureaus — Weights and Measures, Environmental Protection, Weed Hazard/IPM, Pest Exclusion/Produce Quality, and Administrative Services — supported by the Entomology/Plant Pathology Laboratories (processing 8,000+ specimens annually) and a NIST Echelon III-accredited Metrology Laboratory.

The department serves four primary constituencies: County residents filing consumer complaints; property owners in unincorporated areas subject to mandatory weed abatement; regulated businesses (pest control operators, fuel stations, retail scanners, nurseries, wholesale produce dealers); and farmers, growers, and apiary operators. It partners with CDFA, USDA, NIST, DPR, USEPA, UC Davis/UC Berkeley, and Cal Poly universities, and operates three physical offices (Arcadia HQ, South Gate, Lancaster) alongside digital self-service portals (Survey123 forms, Link2Gov payment processing, BeeWhere apiary platform).

Funding flows from the County of Los Angeles general fund augmented by fee-based services — annual device registrations, scanner/point-of-sale registrations, structural fumigation fees, wholesale produce dealer licenses, and Metrology Lab calibration services. Payment processing charges include a $0.49 eCheck fee and 2.22% credit card fee (min $1.49). The department does not generate GAAP revenue in the commercial sense; it is not privately held, not venture-backed, and not subject to M&A.

Name

Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures; County of Los Angeles

Legal name

County of Los Angeles - Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures

Website

https://acwm.lacounty.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures Department is a Los Angeles County regulatory agency, established 1881, that enforces commercial measurement accuracy, pesticide regulation, pest exclusion, weed abatement, and produce quality across five bureaus serving county residents, property owners, regulated businesses, and farmers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Regulatory Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Pesticide & Agricultural Chemical Health Regulators (HLAJAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Health Inspections & Code Enforcement (Housing/Sanitation/Vector Control) (HLAJAFAJ)

Keywords

• Weights and measures enforcement
• Agricultural pest regulation
• Consumer protection services
• Pesticide regulation oversight
• Weed abatement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Arcadia, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Los Angeles County Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures (ACWM) is a county government department that enforces federal, state, and local laws governing agricultural protection, consumer measurement accuracy, pesticide use, pest detection and exclusion, and weed/brush clearance. It operates five bureaus delivering regulatory inspections, laboratory identifications, calibration services, device registrations, and consumer complaint resolution for Los Angeles County residents and businesses.

Product overview

Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures is a regulatory county department (not a commercial product company) that provides public services through five bureaus: Weights and Measures Bureau (ensuring accurate commercial measurements and pricing), Environmental Protection Bureau (pesticide regulation and pest detection), Weed Hazard/Integrated Pest Management Bureau (vegetation clearance and pest control), Pest Exclusion/Produce Quality Bureau (preventing exotic pest entry and produce quality), and Administrative Services Bureau (internal support). Supporting operations include the Entomology and Plant Pathology Laboratories processing over 8,000 pest specimens annually, and the Metrology Laboratory with Echelon III accreditation. The department also manages divisions for scales, meters, price verification, and business practice investigations. Services are delivered through office locations in Arcadia (headquarters), South Gate, and Lancaster, with online complaint filing and payment processing systems for device registrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weights and Measures Bureau Regulatory bureau ensuring consumers receive correct weight, volume, count or measurement for purchased commodities. Tests and inspects petroleum fuel meters, utility submeters, scales, and price scanners; performs undercover purchases to verify pricing accuracy in retail establishments across Los Angeles County.
• Environmental Protection Bureau Enforces pesticide laws and regulations, and detects exotic insect pests threatening California agriculture. Operates the Pest Detection Division placing over 24,000 insect traps annually, plus Agricultural Pesticide Regulation and Structural Pesticide Regulation divisions.
• Weed Hazard/Integrated Pest Management Bureau Enforces removal of weeds and brush from vacant properties to protect public health, safety, and property. Manages rodents and vertebrate pests and provides pest control services to reduce disease vector spread in unincorporated areas and contract cities.
• Pest Exclusion/Produce Quality Bureau Prevents entry and distribution of exotic insect and plant pests through inspections at airports, express carriers, post offices, nurseries, and truck delivery points. Certifies and inspects farmers' markets across Los Angeles County.
• Entomology and Plant Pathology Laboratories Identifies exotic insects, invasive weeds, and plant pathogens entering Los Angeles County. Processes over 8,000 pest specimens annually and provides identifications for residents, schools, government agencies, growers, nurseries, and pest control operators.
• Metrology Laboratory Calibration Services Maintains reference and field standards of mass and volume traceable to NIST and the international System of Units. Offers fee-based calibration services for mass (Echelon III, 25kg to 1mg) and volume (Volume Transfer II, 5 gallons) to businesses and instrument users.
• Pest Control Operators Registration and Oversight Regulates professional pest control operators, advisers, commercial applicators, growers, pesticide dealers, and other users in Los Angeles County. Oversees structural fumigation notices and agricultural notices of intent.
• Apiary/Beekeeping Program Safeguards the California honeybee industry and gathers statistics for the annual Crop Report. Registers all beekeepers in the county, provides oversight through the BeeWhere platform, and manages apiary compliance.
• Device and Scanner Registration Services Annual registration of commercial weighing and measuring devices, point-of-sale scanners, and structural fumigation notifications. Fee-based registrations supporting the LA County Scanner Ordinance and device compliance program.
• Consumer Complaint Filing Systems Online and in-person complaint submission systems for scanner overcharges, gas station fuel pump accuracy, scale/meter/label issues, nuisance bees, pesticide violations, and weed hazards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 24,000 insect traps placed and serviced annually for pest detection
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates on Proclamation of Emergency Programs for pest detections including Oriental Fruit Fly, Caribbean Fruit Fly, and Peach Fruit Fly. CDFA issues official notices for pest detections affecting Los Angeles County, and ACWM implements eradication activities.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on exotic pest detection and eradication programs; provides resources for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease monitoring and reporting.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)coreTechnology or IntegrationACWM's Metrology Laboratory maintains Echelon III Accreditation status from NIST/Office of Weights and Measures, enabling calibration and certification of mass and volume standards traceable to international System of Units.
• California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulates pesticide use through joint enforcement; administers applicator licensing and certification examinations.
• Los Angeles County Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint enforcement and clearance effort for weed abatement. Fire Department handles brush clearance for properties with structures while ACWM handles vacant properties.
• Los Angeles County Farm BureauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides connection between department and agricultural community; supports crop reporting and agricultural statistics collection.
• California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversight agency for environmental protection programs including pesticide regulation.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for pesticide regulation and environmental protection standards.
• Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates on consumer protection matters and provides consumer resources and information.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for consumer protection and fair marketplace practices.
• University of California (UC Davis, UC Berkeley)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research and expertise in agriculture, pest management, and integrated pest management programs.
• California State University SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partners including Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly SLO, and CSU Fresno for agricultural education and research.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Accredits ACWM's Metrology Laboratory under Echelon III and provides traceability to international SI standards — enabling ACWM's fee-based calibration services and giving NIST direct oversight of the lab's standards.
• Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA): LA County sister agency coordinating with ACWM on consumer protection matters, providing complementary consumer resources and complaint-handling infrastructure within the same county government.

Broad incumbents

• California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA): State-level agricultural protection and pest detection authority that issues Proclamation of Emergency Programs implemented on the ground by ACWM. Directly comparable function at a different (state) tier of government.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA): Federal pesticide and environmental protection regulator whose FIFRA and pesticide registration framework ACWM enforces locally; counterpart at the federal level for pest and pesticide oversight.
• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): Federal partner for exotic pest detection, eradication, and quarantine programs (including Mediterranean and Oriental fruit fly responses and Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease monitoring) that coordinates with and funds ACWM activities.
• California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR): State regulator that jointly enforces pesticide laws with ACWM, administers applicator licensing and certification examinations, and sets the broader regulatory framework ACWM operates within.

Direct peers

• San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures: County-level agricultural commissioner/weights and measures department in a neighboring Southern California county, performing the same combined regulatory functions (pesticide enforcement, weights & measures, pest detection, weed abatement) as LA ACWM.
• Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner / Weights & Measures: Another California county with an agricultural commissioner and weights & measures program covering pest detection, pesticide use enforcement, and consumer scale/meter inspection in an adjacent inland region.
• Orange County Agricultural Commissioner / Weights & Measures: Adjacent Southern California county agricultural commissioner and sealer of weights and measures, with overlapping jurisdiction and the same statutory framework under California Food and Agricultural Code.

Regional players

• UC Cooperative Extension (UC Agriculture and Natural Resources): University of California research and extension arm (with UC Davis, UC Berkeley) that partners with ACWM on integrated pest management research, pest identification, and agricultural education across California counties.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=6Gl3H18VhyA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agricultural-commissioner-weights-&-measures-county-of-los-angeles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures; County of Los Angeles